9 Bartending Techniques You Should (and Can) Master

If you've resolved to master your home bar in 2014, then look no further; take cocktails from basic to brilliant with indispensable bartending techniques that go beyond shaking and stirring. From rimming glasses with salt or sugar to dry-shaking egg whites to add volume to light and frothy cocktails, these nine skills will add flair and flavor to your cocktail hour.

Strain

If you prefer your cocktails served up, versus on the rocks, you'll need to strain out any ice and solid ingredients after shaking or stirring your drink. This can be done either using the strainer built into a cobbler shaker (pictured) or with a hawthorne or julep strainer used in tandem with a Boston shaker.